Brooder



Jan. 2, 1934.

L. G. KNAPP BROODER Filed Dec. 9, 1929 2 Sheets -Sheet 1 lnvefififi Leland G Knapp.

L. G. KNAPP Jan. 2, 1934.

BROODER Filed Dec. 9. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented. Jan. 2, 1934 BROODER fleland Knapp, Chicago, 111.; assigirof to cago, 111., a. corporation of Illinois Application December 9, 1929. Serial No. 412,643

8 Claims. (CL I2-6-'53) The present invention hasto' do with breeders for chickens and the like; and is directed-to the improvement of these-device's on such lines to simplify the same in the organization of their "parts, and thereby effect material reduction in the manufacturing-costs thereof.

To the accomplishment of these ends the invention contemplates a hrooder, the heater or stove element of which is of such construction construction of the heater or stove element of.

the brooder by which the parts may be brought together or separated in'an expeditious manner for replacement or repair, and without the neces'sity for the employmento'f skilled labor to effect the same.

A'further object in view is theproduction of a heater or stove element for breeders wherein is included a novel arrangement of draft devices for maintaining and regulating the fire therein.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the nature of the improvements is better understood, the invention consisting substantially in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in'the appended claims.

.The form of theinventi'on made the subject of the present disclosure is a portrayal of a;practical embodiment thereof, .but it may be incorporated in other forms so that the delineation of the invention made the basis of this'disclosur e is to be taken in an illustrative and not a limiting sense.

In the drawings Fig. 1 isa verticaltransVerse sectional viewlof a brooder constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is -.a similar view of .the :top portionof the brooder on-the-line-H of Fig. 1 1

Fig. 3 is a viewin side elevation of-thetopportion of the-breeder, the hover being removed, the

0 line of vision being towards :the :check .draft of V the brooder;

Fig.4 is a detail sectional view on the line Fig. :1;

Fig.5 is a sectional plan' aviewgbroken away; illustrating Ithe relation of :the grateito the .fire

pot, and the manner cf-supporting the grate a Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view :on the line Fig. 1;. 1 r

Fig. '7 is a detail :elevat-ion'o'f the main air inlet damper and its mounting; I

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional viewzof the check draft duct; g

Fig. 9 is a top plan view thereon; 1 Fig. 10 is a side elevation of thezcheckrdraftduct; a

Figs. 11., 12 and :13 are sectional views of the check draft duct on the lines 'li:e11-; 125F212 and 13-13, Fig. 8;

Fig. '14 is a detaii .plan view of the-closure for the .checkdraft duct; g

7 Referring in detail tothe accompanying ;draw= ings, the numeral 10 designates the base 'efizth'e heater or stove element of the 'brooder. flhe latter is of the type in which solid fuel, such as coal, is burned. The base 10 is annularin form and has an upwardly projecting "flange 11 which. fits within the lower end of a sheet metal body 12. 'This body is cylindrical in form,:an=d its length is suificient to provide an ashepit13 and acombustion chamber 14. The lower end .Of the body 12 has :a bottom plate 15, which :constrtute's a closure for :that end off the :body, and likewise forms the bottom of the ash-pit 13. a

At an appropriate point above bottom of the body 12 thereis' formed in thes'idesrof the latter an inwardly directed head 16; thereby forming an annular supporting 'irib hat the inner face of the'body. This riibconstitutes .aseat .for

a bowl-shaped fire-pot 1,7. "In assembling. the

fire-pot 17 within :thehody. 12 the fireepotistrodu'ced through the upper open end of the body 12 and moved into contact with the .rib 16,. and it is thereffastenedby means of .a plurality of stove bo1ts'18', as shown. The flreepot 1. 7--has: a centrally disposedopeningnw Whichreceives a circular gate 20. Surroundingthe opening '19 is a depending :annularflangem. which flange is provided at diametrically opposite points-with tapering sockets 22, and seated in..-said:sockets is a supporting1bar'23 the endssof 'whichareproe" vided with tapering heads 24 that fitxwithingthe tapering sockets 2-2. and thereby hold the bar 23 in said sockets. Thegsupporting bar 23 is perforated at its central portion and seated within saidperforated portion is a depending lug 25 by which-the;grate'20 is permitted to pivoton the bar 23. 'Thelowerxendofzth'e lug 25 hasa trans verseopening therein -.for receiving a shaker bar 26,'-'s'aid:bar;being held within'the11ug-25 by apin 27. By means of the shaker bar 26 the grate 20 may be'oseillated on thesupporting bar to shake the fire, the ashes gravitating from the grate being received by an ash-pan 28 located the ash-pit 13 and carried by an ash-pit door 29 which closes an opening 30 in the lower "end of the body'12 and by which said opening iscontrolled. 7 A With the tapering heads 24 loosely fitting in 10 the tapering sockets 22, the supporting bar 23" may be easily removed from the fire pot. 17' when occasion requires, thus enabling the grate 20 to be removed from the fire-pot and readily replaced therein. 5 At the upper end of thebody 12 1s locateda dome-shaped top 31, which is cast to the desired form. This top has a depending flange 32 at its lower edge, and said flange fits within the upper end of the body 12 and is suitably secured 20 thereto by stove bolts or equivalent fastenings.

The centralfportion of the topg31 is perforated; to provide an opening 32:! for passage of the productsof combustion, said opening being surrounded by a flange 33 to which a smoke pipe 5" or chimney 34 maybe connected;

The top 31 is also provided with a fuel feed opening 35, preferably of oval shape to provide the desired capacity for the introduction of the fuel to the interior'o'f the'body12; said opening 6 35 having a suitable closure 36 removably seated therein. 7

"The dome top 31 is conical in form, and its lower edge'hasa depressed seat 37 extending circumferentially of the top. On the seat 37 is 35 mounted aflsupporting' ring 38 to which is connected the hover or canopy 39 of the brooder, which hover or'canopy. is conical in form and ex-' tends outwardly beyond" the sides of the body 12. tothe desired extent to form the brooding cham- 40 ber in which the =chicks gather. The. hover-39" is preferably formed'of metal, and. the same may beprovided with a plurality .of ribs 40 to' reinforce or strengthen the same. v,

i It is obvious that the. lower edge of the hover. V 39' will be so located with reference to the'base' j' V 10 as to provide the necessary. clearance space between that edge and the floor on which the 1 brooder islocated for-passage of the'chicks into and out of the brooding spaceunder the hover. At'one side of the ash-pit 13 is'formed a main airfe'ed or inletopening 41 for passage of air to the fire-pot 17, thereby afiording direct draft to the fire in the fire-pot- 17, this opening beingarranged at a point below the grate 20. The opening- 41 is surrounded by acasting 42 which has an opening 43 that registers withthe opening 41. The casting 42 is held in position on the body 12 with respect to the opening 41 bya plurality of stove bolts or equivalentfastenings, 9 and said casting has formed at opposite sides of the opening-.43 a pair of curved lugs-44 which constitute bearings ior outwardly extending hinge lugs 45 carriedby an air inlet damper 46. '-.This damper controls the openings 43 and 41,-- 5 T and' when seated in closed. relation thereto the passage of air into the ash-pit ispreventecl.

The damper 46 is'thermostatically. controlled." This is accomplished by: the usual form of ther-'- mostat now commonly employed inbrooders of;

"jo this typeQthe same including a supporting arm 47 which is removably conneetedto the casting 42, the arm 47 having a depending screw 48 on which is mounted a thumb nut .49 between which and the outer end'of the arm 47 is adjustably' mounted an actuating bar 50. The bar 59 ma'y 'check draftdamper 55 to be operated in unison,

be adjusted on the screw 48 by the nut 49 towards and away from the bar 4'7, thermostatic wafers 51 also being interposed between the actuating bar 50 and the'supporting bar 7. The action of this type of thermostat is well known, the expansion of the Wafers, when subjected to the heat under the hover 39, serving to move the actuating bar 50' away from. the bar 47, said bar 50 moving towards the'bar fl when the wafers 51 have contracted on reduction of the temperature beneath the hover. V

Adjacent the upper end of the body 12 the. latter is provided with a bleeder or check draft opening 52. This is positioned at such point in the body 12as to be beneath the hover 13 and in communication with the brooding chamber beneath the hover when the latter is supported by the ring'38 from the seat 37. At the exterior of the body '12 the check draft opening 52 is surrounded by a casting 53, said casting being secured infpositionab'out-the. opening 52 by stoye bolts or. other suitable fastening. As'clearly shown in-Fig. '1, the castingf53 is substantially trie angular'in cross section, andthesame is formed; with an opening 54 which registerswith the opening 52 in the body 12;'.;The openings.54-and 52 arecontrolled byga check draft damper 55 suitably-hinged, as at 56, to'the lower portion of the casting'53, and cooperating with the latter. to close the opening 54 when suchis requirech At the outer sideof. the check draft damper 55 islocatedan attaching lug 57, and at the inner side thereof is arranged a contact'finger 58 of such. length as to engage with the upper edge of the openings 52 and 54, if such be required, tolimitug the outward throw of the check draft damper 55.

A connecting rod-59 is'attached to the-lug 57 at the upper endof said rod; the lower end being suitably connectedto the-actuatingbar 50. of the thermostatic controlling device; A similar connecting rod-60 extends from the lug 5'7to an a taching finger 61 on the air inlet damper 46.

Thus it will be seen that the actuation of the bar p.

50 by theexpansion'and contraction of thewafers 51' will-cause the air inlet damper 46 and the 1211 one moving to closing position, and the other to opening position, and vice versa, according to the movement of. the; aotuatingbar 50 under the ac tion of the wafers 51. a; 5 It is the object of the air entering the check draft opening 52-to check the fire in the fire-pot 17 bybleeding hot air intothe fiue drafharid. thus enable the are to be regulated in accordance witlrtlie temperature that-is required under-the I hover 39. a

To direct the incoming air which enters the opening 52 for the purpose stateda check draft duct 62 is employed. 5 This'duct is in the form of a channel casting, the same being illustrated in detail in Figs. 8 to 13, inclusive. It includes an inclined body portion'63, which conforms to the inclination or slope of the dome-shaped top. 31.

At the upper 'endofthe body portion 53 is located a perforated head 54,;vhich'extends at an M6 angleto the body'p'ortion 63, and occupies a substantially horizontalposition beneath the cen tral portion of the top 31 so that'the perforation or 0pening65'of said head 64 is in substantial registry withthe opening 32c through which the. 345 products of combustion pass. 1 Y Atthe lower end of the bodyportion63 is a vertically disposed foot 66, which extends at an angle to the body 63 so as to lie substantially para'llelwith the adjacentvertical wall of the b-eshehe d 121 'Ehie e t h etteehihe flehee 67" b w ieh it, eeeehreq t9 the teee e the ed 1 ehr hh ih te eti h 9 he. he k draft evening T: e tehe elte Wh eh held the e he ,3- n eeiti out theeh hh ae he eh hi 'y e hi ied: e eet h hee teetof, thereby providinglateral flanges tee side.

edgesof the duct, which fiauges e'xten d iroin the lower end of the duct to thefupper endfthereef... These flangesdbear agai st the vih' er side walls of he body t el'ihe -h t ieh e e-te 3% and the central upper .pertien of the latter. The,

side flanges fit betvveen spaceci'ribs} 53 whieh are formed on the. inner fag-e bf thesdc ie-shaped top 31, so that fthecheck draft duct 62, in cqqpera: tion with the top 31 and face off the bpdy l2rforms a flue fqr passage. of 'the airtrom the opening 52 to the opening 32a of the tqp 311, Due to the position of thes'ieleflanges n'fltheduct between the ribs 6;; this flue sealed, against draft, except as, the riratt is exerted. at the in.- r e t reof by es h f ts, comhh hf eet o wi h h meke i e el ehi he t e b eh of he ub h ile en h e he du et h side and abeve the co rrbustiori area; the extraneous i b e hre eh the duet n h lu s hi hly heated and serves to rgj ipi iizejth flueldrajtuppn the fuel rather than apply a blarilgetsd f cold air, hu ende n e e tre emhhet h m h more sensitive and gl'glufil, e iab ling the variation of em e at r e me n e hed ith small limits. e

a The he k eret dh tet is h l i h nta it the top3l-by a tastepirig belt fig er'its equivelent.

For. graduating the size of the opening of per foration of the-cheek draft duet a ciosure'iq, is associatedtherewith, This isgproyidefl vvitha n -r o hi g lu 71 Wh h e e-e ehh e te corresponding lug '12 fprrn'ed enthe heagi '64, the closure being of suificieht gimjen sie tp cover h ev n eiwheh e e he eeei i 5 th, shoul in eese a an f f t w T eeure 0 'ep'eeed tem h 't t i h e 64 so asjto uncover the "opening 65 grid te i m hhhieetiehthlie hteed ehe ihe te h hu ti qm -.th th 'TheQQ hi -{ZQ hate ele "ferhted h e h e n in iehpeeite o h in e mee 1 e iq' 'et' re'e i i the hea h a e ee lbel 12 w ich Ph$$6SUPWhQ through the domes-shaped top 3 1 t9 the exterier here t here-"i h eed en is n ev sl d w h hedi h eh h tfte ite Perxh t 'e ihe heh e; he el e in 91 meter e'te t'rihe thei ehre :eithe t wa dser we e the" eheh h "t5 in'the head 64 df the'cheek' draft'duct. T

In the use ofthe hereingescribegi br.oqqer,-'fire i with n matett e temg-e ref erab ly as the fuel. The hgver 39 is positierred V on the steve or" heater element by fplacihg ii/he.

ihr e t he ine th re 'eh'th eet 'Thi n e. Normally, 't e iiecti he h heiheh eh the: etete e e: Win 2 hetehte shhih eh he. i h teeehe t ehe hhsiet the-h, m whie te therehehee temperature conditigns ha e t eeh 9. th

.. e 5:11 9 the th s h e. ee he the he t e-e the Q ettf fiehd thee e h e- =11 h .Qt pe eghel e le e 1 it e1 l- 7 .1 etect he t-efit}? 'thteheh the h ti en 3 t e h-h t; en h se t it s h 'ehe'h he re-Pet eh 't e th hetetht 'th h bust chamber, and passes. en tg-the s'rr i'q chimney 34. It will be understooiofcq e hhhh e t h i est bl sh d he w h- A a he. ehe hhe ,4 ehht ee hehe e. or ch mney by a lim et ad stment .of the el e 10 0f the opening 65. Dependent 11pm the, degree of draft vvhiehitis .desiheQtQ r10 a 1 1-y maintain in the firerpetfla d acc mbustio chamber, the cigsure 7.0 is'agijusted in relation to the, qlieniiig 6 5. suchadjusltment is efieeted by pioperm at ipylatich pi the ut 75 carried by the ael'iuf st,-

rscrew :7; to which theclosure10,1scbnndted.

iseeu e he be ei iehed it m or e s. we d er the eehi e fit et r e et of combustion readily y ssemm the 3,0 bllti0h ehethher ,4 t e :smeke ipe .or- .chi 3 Bu i ed ue m ht he then 2 frem timeeto timeto meet' chahgihgatmqsb ic eehd eh It is hb ieus he efore fthet he constructien ljust d eseribedprovides-a simple, d.

39, .risesthe sar'rie will H ct t e 'th rt eete i Wa r 51 to ehee' he e tQ XPhI d. As er t-e te -e t es Wet r h vi: @Wll. h0W tyne 11g: ih ll w th t er-er the vola le li 1d capable gr ready expansion and \c ontractiop ,uri

e e eh he ete h i e i ie h th were ezgpangi the actuating bar'5 0 is mpved awayfrom h hh e she i he h s rt e 191 1 on, 129:

the co eemii rod "59 This m'oves'the ch p ra t dampe t n o ehheei ieh W ee 'e e he h ek-el f Qp' mh h't x hdr n e e' r v r mei tlcf the cheek-draft amber 55 the'er'xqn-v ete I o 'mev h il s? ete hhehf fi 1 h le e th r ieh- It wi h hh t et 'e i th t h r *ti e' merehl h iefth ha e e6 e d'5t5 ede e m by h ediuetrh h e he ther eet i e herehe d vi e eeh .eei t heh i er dih f lh letiv neei ehihe f t de ri r e emee en hihe 41 ehfi e dt e' che h hehi fee 5;. nd? 'm. h ti y 'h he eem 'tithe e t he he t tp mne i wt eleee a d e eheek d a hleh i eheh, 13;; vice versa, as ccr ditiens cf bpleration cf th e breeder -m ay require, all of these mcvemerits being under-the coptrclef the-thermbstatic de viee which'responds ate the temperature changes in the'air-under the heifer 3'91 By such-auto riatiemevement e'f -the' damiiers 5 16 and 55-t h'e fire -is central-led, and everi temperature in'ain tai egl iii the air beheath'the neyersa, *I'hat temperature is 'determined 'by the age of chicks; the therinestatie' device "being set -fbr such temperature by rnanipulation f the nut 49 ,(jn the sere'w48 to -vary the "aeti'qn'of theiit afrs 5 1 in the movement of th aetuating bar 50'. Itwi rhe u a sto e also-that im temiierah e l were *et-e heeeteee t t aso grad s69. e-hh yed w wa dly hd eb glzs,

closingpositiori relative to the check draftopeningj52, and thereby move theactuating bar 50 towards the supporting bar-47.

Brooders of the character herein described are" usually operated under conditions which require fuelling and shakingof the fire approximately only once in every twelve hours.

the stove element has been given attention in this respect it is unnecessary to exercise further care in the maintenance of the fire, the latterbeing automatically controlled by the thermostatic device, and even temperature maintained thereby under the hover 39;

I'" claim:

In a brooder, a stove element" including abody having a fire-pot and a combustion chamber and a ,fiue, said body'being'provided with a draft controlling damper below the fire-pot and with acheck-draft opening at a point above the fire-pot, the damper and check coupled to open and close thermostatically 'infunison, 'andialso .provided'with a flue opening for escape of the products of combustion, independent dampers for the check draft opening and for the flue opening, a channeled member arranged at'the inner side of the body and communicating with said check-draft opening and with theflue beyond the said flue opening, said channeledmember cooperatingwith the inner walls of the body to constitute a check-draft duct between the checkdraft opening and the flue, and means for connectingsaid channeled member to the body;

ais-

2. In a brooder, pa' stoveelement including'a body having afire-pot anda combustion chamber and a. flue, said body being provided with a draft controlling damperbelow the fire-pot and with a check draft opening at a point above the "fire-pot the damper and check coupled to' open and close thermostatically in unison, and also provided witha flueoper'iingfor escape of the products of combustion, independent dampers for the check draft opening and forfithe flue opening, a channeled memberar'ra'n'ge'd at. the

inner side of the body and provided with head and foot portions, the head portion being in com-V necting said channeled member to thebody. 55 I c 3. In a brooder, a stove element including a body having a fire-pot and. a combustion chamber and a flue, said body being provided with a draft controllingdamper below the fire-pot and i .With a check-draftopening at a point above the fire-pot, the damper andcheck coupled to open and close thermostatically in unison, and also provided with a flue opening for escape of the products of combustion, independent dampers ..for the check draft opening and for the flue opening; a channeled member arranged at the inner side of the body and provided with ahead and foot portions, the head portion beingin:com-

munication with the flue beyond the. flueiopening and the foot portion in communication With the check-draft member, said channeled membercooperating, with the inner walls of the body,

to constitute a check-draft duct between the check draft opening and the flue, means for connecting saidchanneled member to the body, the

head portion of said channeled member carry- Thus, after time the preponderant weight'of the check-draft damper 55 will cause the latter to move to itsing the flue opening to afford communication be-' tween the combustion chamber'and said flue, and

the fire-pot, the damper and check coupled to open and close thermostatically in unison, and

also'provided with a' flue opening for escape of the products of combustion,'independent damp ers for the check'draftopening and for the flue opening; a channeled'member'arranged'at the inner side of the body and provided with a head and foot portions-the headportion being in communication with the flue beyond the flue opening and the foot portion in communication with the check-draft opening, said channeled member cooperating with the inner walls of the body to constitute a check-draft duct betweenthe check draft opening and the flue, means for connecting said channeled member to the body, the head portion of said channeled member carrying the flue opening to afford communication between the combustion chamber and said flue, a closure hingedly connected to said member and cooperating with the opening in said head portion for controlling the'area thereof, and means for adjusting said closure in relation to said opening to vary the area of the opening.

5. In abrooder, a stove element including a body having a fire-pot and'a combustion chamber and'a flue, said body being provided with a draft controlling damper below the. fire-pot and with a checkdraft opening at a point above the fire-pot, the damper and check coupled to open and close thermostatically in unison, and also provided with a flue opening for escape of the products of combustion, independent dampers for the check draft opening and for the flue opening a channeled member arranged at the inner side of the body and provided with head and foot portions, the head portion being incommunication with the flue beyond'the flue opening and the foot portion in communication with the check-draft opening, said channeled member cooperating with the'inner' walls of the body to constitute a check-draftduct between the checkdraftopening and the flue, the inner walls of the body having spaced ribs between which the sides of saidchannel member are fitted, whereby to seal the check-draft duct against draft, means for connecting said channeled member to the body, thehead portion of said channeled member carrying the flue opening to afford communicationbetween the combustion chamber and saidfiueopening, and adjustable means for'controlling the area ofthe opening in said head portion. t y

6.rIn a brooder, a stove element including a body having a fire-pot and a combustion chamber and a flue, said body being provided with a draft controllingrdamper below the fire-pot and with a check-draft opening at a point above the fire-pot, thedamper and check coupled to open and close thermostaticallyin unison, a domeshaped top surmounting the body and provided with a flue opening for escape of the products of I combustion, independent dampers for the check draft opening and for the flue opening, a channeled member arranged at the inner side ofl the body and including head and foot portions arranged at an angle'to the body portion of said member, the head portion being disposed substantially horizontally across said top and in communication with the flue opening, the'body portion of said member conforming to the contour of said top; and the foot portion being vertically disposed and conforming to the vertical wall of the body of the stove element from a point substantially midway of the height of the combustion chamber, said channeled member cooperating with the body of the stove element to constitute a check-draftduct between the check-draft opening and the flue beyond the flue opening, and means for connecting said channeled member to the body.

'7. In a brooder, a stove element including a body having a fire-pot and a combustion chamher and a flue, said body being provided with a draft controlling damper below the fire-pot and with a check-draft opening at a point above the fire-pot, a damper and check coupled toopen and close thermostatically in unison, a dome-shaped top surmounting the body and provided with a flue opening for escape of the products of combustion, independent dampers for the check draft opening and for the flue opening, a channeled member arranged at the inner side of the body and including head and foot portions arranged at an angle to the body portion of said member, the head portion being disposed substantially horizontally across said top and in communication with the flue opening, the body portion of said member conforming to the contour of said top, and the foot portion being vertically disposed and conforming to the vertical wall of the stove element from a point substantially midwayof the height of the combustion chamber, said channeled member cooperating with the body of the stove element to constitute a check draft duct between the check-draft opening and the flue beyond the flue opening, means for connecting said channeled member to the body, the head portion of said channeled member carrying the flue opening to afiord communication between the combustion chamber and said flue opening, a closure hingedly connected to said fire-pot, the damper and check coupled to open member and cooperating with the opening in said head portion for controlling the area thereof, and means for adjusting said closure in relation to said opening to vary the area of the opening.

8. In a brooder, a stove element including a body having a fire-pot and a combustion chamber and a flue, said body being provided with a draft controlling damper below the fire-pot and with acheck-draft opening at a point above the and close thermostatically in unison, a domeshaped top surmounting the body and provided with a flue opening for escape of the products of combustion, independent dampers for the check draft opening and for the flue opening a channeled member arranged at the inner side of the 7 body and including head and foot portions arranged at an angle to the body portion of said member, the head portion being disposed substantially horizontally across said top and in communication with the flue beyond the flue opening, the body portion of said member conforming to the contour of said top, and the foot portion being vertically disposed and conforming to the vertical wall. of the stove element from a point substantially midway of the height of the combustion chamber, said channeled member cooperating with the body of the stove element to con-- stitute a check-draft duct between the checkdraft opening and the fluebeyond the flue opening, the inner walls of the body having spaced ribs between which the sides of said channel member are fitted, whereby to seal the checkdraft duct against draft, means for connecting said channeled member to the body, the head portion of said channeled member carrying the flue opening to afford communication between the combustion chamber and said flue opening,

a closure hingedly connected to said member and cooperating with the opening in said head portion for controlling the area thereof, and means for adjusting said closure inrelation to said opening to vary the area of the opening.

LELAND G. KNAPP. 

